Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has voiced concerns regarding the implementation of the BEAD program, a $42.5 billion initiative designed to expand broadband access in unserved parts of the United States. Speaking on the Senate floor, Thune highlighted the fact that, despite three years since the program was established, no households have been connected to the internet.

Thune attributed this lack of progress to the Biden administration's imposition of conditions on the funding, including union labor and climate requirements, which he claims have rendered the program unworkable for many providers, particularly those operating in rural areas like South Dakota. He noted, “The administration added so many requirements that the program couldn’t fulfill its core function, which was connecting households to the internet.”

Thune pointed out the need for a new approach with the recent changes in the federal administration. He mentioned Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's commitment to removing the barriers that have prevented the program from achieving its objectives. “We’re asking Secretary Lutnick to look at the restrictive labor requirements in the program that disadvantage rural communities and states with few union workers, right-to-work states like mine in South Dakota,” Thune stated.

To address these issues, Thune and his colleagues on the Commerce Committee have sent a letter to Secretary Lutnick. They urge the removal of provisions that favor government-owned networks over private investments, guidelines prioritizing certain technologies, and climate change mandates that they believe create unnecessary hurdles.

Additionally, Thune looked forward to the role of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in ensuring the effectiveness of the BEAD program. He expressed his intention to work with Arielle Roth, President Trump’s nominee to lead the NTIA, stating, “Ms. Roth is very familiar with the burdens that have weighed down the BEAD program.”

Thune emphasized the importance of promptly addressing these regulatory measures to connect more households to the internet, concluding, “It is time – it is high time, Mr. President – to remove these barriers and start getting households connected to the internet.”